Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov.

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base the IDLH for strychnine. The chosen IDLH, therefore, has been estimated from the statement by Gleason et al. [1969] that 30 mg by the oral route is usually a threat to an adult's life [Witthaus 1911].

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal dose data:

Species

Reference

Route

LD50

(mg/kg)

LDLo

(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD

Derived value

Rabbit

Dog

Cat

Mouse

Rat

Rat

Flury and Zernik 1935

Moraillon & Pinault 1978

Moraillon & Pinault 1978

Prasad et al. 1981

Spector 1956

Ward & Crabtree 1942

oral

oral

oral

oral

oral

oral

-----

0.5

0.5

2

16

2.35

0.6

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

4.2 mg/m3

3.5 mg/m3

3.5 mg/m3

14 mg/m3

112 mg/m3

17 mg/m3

0.4 mg/m3

0.4 mg/m3

0.4 mg/m3

1.4 mg/m3

11 mg/m3

1.7 mg/m3

Human data: It has been reported that the probable lethal oral dose is 1.5 to 2 mg/kg [Gosselin et al. 1984]. [Note: An oral dose of 1.5 to 2 mg/kg is equivalent to a 70-kg worker being exposed to 70 to 93 mg/m3 for 30 minutes assuming a 50 liter per minute breathing rate and 100% absorption.]

Revised IDLH: 3 mg/m3 [Unchanged]

Basis for revised IDLH: No inhalation toxicity data are available on which to base an IDLH for strychnine. However, based on acute oral toxicity data in humans [Gosselin et al. 1984], the original IDLH for strychnine (3 mg/m3) is not being revised at this time.